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The Canadian Press
story from Mar 12, 2007, titled Chemo hair loss messy, awkward; advance preparations can make i....
In it, The Canadian Press reports that:

Their work involves lots of entertaining and myriad social commitments for which chic black is pretty much the diplomatic dress code.But black wasn't an option when the chemotherapy drugs battling Smith's ...

This is day 14 for me after chemo and I have 3 more treatments left. I was diagnoised with breast cancer and thank God, the doctors were able to get it all. The cancer had only been in my body for 3 days then I had a lumpectomy. My hair has not come out yet but once it starts to shed, I will have my husband shave it. I think I can deal with it better that way. All of you are so strong to have gone through something like this. Tell your story and be a help to someone. I dont look at having cancer as a negative but a positive because everyonehas to go through something to be a blessing to someone else. Keep your head up. I just started a yahoo group so please come on in and join.http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/breastca...

I had my surgery 2 1/2 years ago and as a friend deals with a suspicious lump that's starting to look ominous I look back to where I was then -- and having had breast cancer really has made me a better person. I'm stronger in some ways (and weaker in some ways -- it's not all positive) but overall ... it's growth.

However, I would like to urge people to not think of themselves -- or anyone else -- as "brave." To me the brave person has the choice to enter or not enter the burning house to try to save someone.

This is just something we had. Being sick sometimes is a part of being alive.

But lost of people have helped all of us recover. Reach out to someone who is going through it now and help them get through it.

Gail Perry....I've read several of your post in different areas dealing with the issue of Cancer. It's been nice to see someone that feels the same as I do. I'm not a surviver. A surviver is someone who has come though an ordeal and it doesn't have a chance of coming back. I didn't want to be reminded of it everytime I say my friends. I just wanted to be with them like old times. I appeciated all their suppport, but it would have been nice to forget for awhile. I've been done with me treatment for two years next month and to this day they still are concerned. With that said, I had the best support group around me that anyone could have. Family, friends and God. As for the hair, mine was falling out and hurting so bad that I had my husband shave it off. It was a relief. It didn't hurt any longer and I didn't have to be cleaning it up all the time. Like you said, it was a bump in the road. Now it's time to move on and emjoy life. Yes it could come back, but why waste time worrying about that. Deal with it when and if it happens. We are not brave, we're doing what we have to do to live. Bless you all

Dear Gail and Belssed,I feel exactly as you both do. We are not brave, we just do what has to be done to go on. I am blessed with 3 beautiful and kind daughters, they are right there if I need anything.Ladies just keep on keeping on!Jeanie

Blessed, you're right. It can come back. But I've done everything I can to prevent that, as I'm sure you have, and I'm glad to be on with the rest of my life. And that's the rest of my life whether or not it comes back, so I'd be smart to enjoy it.

I'm not a "survivor," and I'm not brave. In fact, I'm a great big whiner. Sometimes I feel as if those who talk about us being "survivors" or "brave" are putting too much in the way of expectations on us. I should not have to be a role model just because I had breast cancer, because that means that if I handled it well (most people would say I did)-- then that other woman has to, also.

No, she doesn't. She can be angry, and afraid, and pissed off as all getout, and that's her right. No one else should be talling her *in any way* how to feel about it, and that includes the expectation that she be "brave."

I'm getting T.A.C (three chemos) for breast cancer, once every three weeks for six rounds (18 weeks). My hair started coming out on day 13 (we had already cut it pretty short by then). By day 19, we HAD to shave it. It just is not shaved close enough so I need to get it closer to the scalp. Barber? Shaving cream? Electric razor? Anyone having any skin issues with their newly shaved head and recommendations for hair products/scalp products?

I've been coloring my hair for YEARS but don't feel I need the color care products now. Baby shampoo was recommended...any thoughts or what you KNOW works? My scalp has never proven flakey and the new shave made it a bit flakey. Just wondering what info you have found out.

I say do what feels right with you new dome. I bought a wig the week before chemo. Friends and I went and made a fun day of it, plus the lady at Dion's Wigs was into it too. We all looked like Charlie's Angels with our wigs at one point. Pictures were funny and made light of a rough situation.

I'm a hat wearer but I still wear a bandana under the hat. I don't like the feeling of NO hair anywhere yet, not even sleeping. I too had LOTS of apprehension about my hair loss but a day of crying (the day I realized it was falling out) seemed to help be get past it. Weird how these emotions MUST come to the surface but this too shall pass.

I'm getting T.A.C (three chemos) for breast cancer, once every three weeks for six rounds (18 weeks). My hair started coming out on day 13 (we had already cut it pretty short by then). By day 19, we HAD to shave it. It just is not shaved close enough so I need to get it closer to the scalp.Barber?Shaving cream?Electric razor?Anyone having any skin issues with their newly shaved head and recommendations for hair products/scalp products?I've been coloring my hair for YEARS but don't feel I need the color care products now. Baby shampoo was recommended...any thoughts or what you KNOW works? My scalp has never proven flakey and the new shave made it a bit flakey. Just wondering what info you have found out.I say do what feels right with you new dome. I bought a wig the week before chemo. Friends and I went and made a fun day of it, plus the lady at Dion's Wigs was into it too. We all looked like Charlie's Angels with our wigs at one point. Pictures were funny and made light of a rough situation.I'm a hat wearer but I still wear a bandana under the hat. I don't like the feeling of NO hair anywhere yet, not even sleeping. I too had LOTS of apprehension about my hair loss but a day of crying (the day I realized it was falling out) seemed to help be get past it. Weird how these emotions MUST come to the surface but this too shall pass.Thanks! Good forum.

Hi I am 10 days away from my first treatment, I think I will have my head shaved after my 2nd treatment, I bought a wig(hope it doesn't itch) I too have questions about how to care for a shaved head. I have read some pretty terrible stories online about it and I want to make sure I do everything possible to care for my head. I promise to never take my hair for granted again! This is hard, I am scared to death about Chemo, Cancer has taken over my life. Help please

I am 10 days away from my first treatment, I think I shall have my head shaved after my 2nd treatment. I too have questions about how to care for my head, I have read some awful stories online. I am terrified of chemo, cancer has taken over my life, help please!

My personal preference was to go ahead and shave my head. I chose to wear a wig so what was the point of waiting?

Lynn, you aren't going to get out of this life without experiencing some kind of serious illness or injury. In a way you're lucky: there are ways to fight this one. Sooner, or later, we all have a fight we can't win. No one is immortal.

It's not that bad. I wasn't ever nauseous from chemo. It was just a nuisance.

Hi,Thanks, I'm going to Moffitt cancer center in Tampa, in good hands. Its good to know that your chemo was not too bad, I guess I am afraid of the unknown, I only know what I have read online or what others have told me. I have stage3 breast cancer, facing surgery and radiation. I guess after shaving my head I can look forward to a new head of hair. Did you lose your eyebrows and lashes? This is so hard for me. I know a good outlook is more than half the battle. There is no way out, no favors no amount of money can get me out of this, funny nothing is important that used to be important. How a life can change in a short time.take care.

Lynn honestly my life changed for the better for having had breast cancer.

My eyebrows thinned but did not fall out completely. A little good eyebrow powder (you can buy it at a wig shop) helped a lot.

The eyes were tougher. They're my best feature. All the lashes fell out except ONE on each eye -- the one remaining was right in the middle! I called them my "rhino horns." I sing in a chorus, and for performances I put on false eyelashes, but I didn't bother for every day.

You are in good hands at Moffitt. Be ready to INSIST that your friends focus more than just on the fact that you have had cancer. Be ready to politely change the topic if other people put too much emphasis on it.

You'll need a way to entertain yourself. Chemo is boring, and you may not always feel like reading. I got a small portable DVD player with earphones.

Most importantly, don't ignore any side effects or feel you just have to "tough them out." Talk to the nurses, and if one doesn't have a satisfactory answer, talk to another. I have dentures, and one nurse told me that "some people just have to stop wearing their dentures" because of mouth sores. The second nurse, however, knew EXACTLY what needed to be prescribed. She and my dentist worked together. I never had any nausea but they have REALLY good nausea meds now if you need them.

Just don't borrow trouble. People love to tell horror stories and they're almost never first hand.

Dont let the big C rule your lifes. Take it one day at a time, and enjoy your lifes. Best of luck to all of you. Being around positive people helps too. This month is my 25 years free and clear from the big C. These 25 of have been the best of my life. I could not not this all alone. Im sure I had alot of prayers.

Hi,Thanks all. Yesterday was not a good day for me. I hate to think of feeling sorry for myself, I try to get hold and think I am really lucky it could be a lot worse a lot lot worse. I pray for anyone who has to deal with that. So far I pray a lot, I know with Jesus on my side I can do anything. But time will tell. It appalls me that some people are so mis-informed even if they are a nurse.How long till your lashes came back? That just pisses me off to loose my lashes it will be hard enough to loose my hair, but I guess it will be a lesson in vanity. My wig came today and it is itchy.(what a surprise).Missouri Man, Good for you 25 years HOORAY! How did you handle your cancer 25 years ago must have been different. 40 years ago Cancer claimed my Mother at 45 years old, boy did she miss everything, she really had a tough life widowed at 29 with 2 kids she worked 3 jobs sometimesthen cancer took what time she had . I am determined it will NOT take me away from my family.Gail thanks for answering me, it means so much.Prayers to all. Lynn

Hi, Yesterday was not a good day for me, I try not to whine, but I am pissed off.I have to get over it and get on with getting better. WOW 25 years Good for you!Gail, thanks for answering me it means a lot. Only people who have been there know really how it feels.Prayers to all,Lynn

25 years of nobody understanding what I went though.. I am the frist in my family to surive this. Yes it was different. I was 25 when I got sick. My father used to introduce me as the one who surived cancer. I told him to never do that again. I had double cemo and 3 operations in 13 days to save me. Still a hard subject for me. 25 years later and I learned alot. I dont give to the American Cancer. They would not help me, so my money now too good for them. They would not help one of friends father too. He died. I support Dream Factory..

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